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I find finished images to be very satisfying, but getting there can be tough. There are often earlier stages that make me want to quit. I still think about one half-finished piece from over 30 years ago and wonder how I could ever complete it. The idea of continuing feels like facing down a primal enemy. And yet, every finished work has made it through the earlier stages after confronting (or ignoring) the awkwardness to get to the final product. I almost abandoned the painting above mid-stream. Early on, it was so unimpressive and — despite the original inspirational spark — the toil through the process seemingly extinguished the inspiration. I avoided it for weeks. There were suddenly so many other important things to do, which was both true and not true (i.e. watching “British Bake-Off” episodes). Many artists will tell you that simply showing up regularly will accelerate you through the rough middle stages. And while I think that is valid to a degree, I also think there is value in putting things on the side-burner for a while (and seeing if the way someone bakes a five-layer cake might inspire me).
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